RIYADH: The Houthi statement on Saturday that its missile was aimed at the King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah has drawn widespread condemnation from the diplomatic community.
In an attempt to defuse the international uproar, the Houthi militia on Friday denied targeting Makkah and claimed that the missile was aimed at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, AP reported.
The missile was intercepted and destroyed 65 km away from Makkah on Thursday night.
The diplomatic corps condemned the heinous attack that tried to undermine the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the Kingdom.
Jeddah airport is immensely significant as it is the gateway for the pilgrims coming from around the world for Haj and Umrah.
Denouncing the Houthi crime, Flavio Marega, Brazil’s ambassador, told Arab News: “This is against international law, I completely agree that such an attack must be condemned in strongest possible words.”
They first launched the missile deep inside and now trying to justify it saying it targeted the international airport, only makes it worse, he added. “This is not acceptable.”
Laurens Westhoff, the Netherlands ambassador, said: “Of course, I condemn the missile attack from the Houthis on the people of Saudi Arabia.”
The airports near Makkah, in Madinah or in Jeddah “are all civilian airports and we are against any such attacks that target the civilians,” he added.
The envoy said: “We really hope that the negotiators resume peace talks in order to restore peace in Yemen.”
Perturbed over the irresponsible denial, Pakistan Ambassador Manzoor Ul Haq said that saying the missile was aimed at the Jeddah airport is even more shocking.
“We strongly condemn attacks against any city, whether it is Jeddah or any other part of the Kingdom,” the envoy said.
Denouncing the attack, Lebanese Ambassador Abdul Sattar Issa said: “I strongly condemn this aggression on the territory of the Kingdom. It is unacceptable to target one of the two holiest places in Islam,” he said.
Turkish Ambassador Yunis Demirer said his country condemns it even if they (the Houthis) were not targeting the holy city of Makkah.
“This is not at all acceptable. We condemn the missile attack in the strongest words.”
Meanwhile, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, stressed that “this act is flagrant aggression and a provocative act for over a billion Muslims in the world.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Iyad Madani described the attack as “big foolishness emanating from a group that does not care about Muslim sentiments.” He termed it as aggression against Muslims all over the world, taking into account that Makkah is the cradle of the revelation of Islam and the direction of the daily prayers.
Madani said that he is in consultation with other members of the executive committee to hold a meeting to discuss this dangerous act.
The Imams Council in Spain underlined that the attempt “is a terrorist act in order to achieve Safavid designs in the region.” It asserted that the whole Islamic nation stands by the government and people of Saudi Arabia.
The European Islamic Conference said such a terrorist act is a pre-planned machination to realize the Persian Safavid enterprise in the region, that begins with destruction of the Two Holy Mosques.
Darul Ifta of the Philippines said that Muslims in the Philippines stand by the Kingdom in combating the Houthi militias.
The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attack “a criminal act which is a provocation for world Muslims and an attempt to destabilize the security and stability in the Kingdom.”
Morocco fully stands by Saudi Arabia in combating any attempt aiming to target its peace and sovereignty, it said.
Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian said the attack is an act against the symbols of Islam. He termed it “an indescribable crime and an assault on the sanctity of the holy places.”
Houthi militia plot ‘to target Jeddah airport’ slammed
Houthi militia plot ‘to target Jeddah airport’ slammed
Indian Hajj pilgrims take train from Jeddah to Makkah
JEDDAH: Traditionally, all pilgrims arriving at Jeddah International Airport travel to Makkah by buses provided by Saudi authorities. This year, however, special arrangements have been made by the Consulate General of India in Jeddah, in tandem with the Saudi authorities, for some Indian pilgrims to travel via the Haramain High Speed Railway from Jeddah airport to Makkah.
About 32,000 Indian pilgrims will benefit from this exclusive service, reducing travel time by half thanks to the train’s maximum speed of 300 kph.
To commemorate the historic occasion, India’s ambassador, Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, and Consul General Mohd Shahid Alam accompanied Indian pilgrims on the inaugural journey from Jeddah airport to Makkah on Sunday.
The pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom on a Saudia flight from Mumbai.
They were joined by Khaled Al-Harbi, senior vice president of operations at Saudi Arabia Railways, as well as officials from the ministries of Hajj and Umrah, and transport.
This is the first time Saudi Arabia is transporting a limited number of Hajj pilgrims directly from Jeddah airport to Makkah by train.
This year, 175,000 pilgrims from India will participate, with 140,000 organized through the Hajj Committee of India.
KSrelief calls for coordinating humanitarian efforts with WHO
- Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah urges international action amidst humanitarian crisis
RIYADH: Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, supervisor-general of Saudi aid agency KSrelief, said he wants to boost the partnership with the World Health Organization to improve and coordinate response efforts, ensure all resources are allocated efficiently, and enable communities to become more resilient and independent.
Speaking at a session titled “From Crisis to Opportunity: Health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region,” at the 77th World Health Assembly, held in Geneva, Switzerland, Al-Rabeeah thanked the WHO for efforts to address the humanitarian crises in the Eastern Mediterranean region, including conflicts, migration and economic instability.
He said that the Saudi leadership made intensive and generous efforts to alleviate the suffering of millions of people in need in the region and around the world, particularly children, women and vulnerable groups.
Al-Rabeeah said that the total humanitarian assistance provided by Saudi Arabia to the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean exceeded $1.4 billion. He added that KSrelief recently announced a $500 million contribution to efforts to eradicate polio over the next five years.
He mentioned that the center provides comprehensive health treatment and support services in humanitarian emergencies.
Furthermore, KSrelief has implemented various volunteer programs in the medical sector as part of its relief and humanitarian endeavors, including 298 projects worth over $46 million in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
Al-Rabeeah urged all parties in conflict areas to ensure that relief aid providers are allowed to deliver aid in a safe and effective manner.
When aid delivery is prevented and attacks on humanitarian workers and hospital staff are allowed, he said, those in need suffer even more. The situations in the Gaza Strip and Sudan are clear examples of this, he added.
Al-Rabeeah said that KSrelief works closely with its partners to overcome challenges and ensure the safe delivery of aid even under the most difficult circumstances. For instance, during the siege of Taiz in Yemen, the center used airdrops to deliver assistance and even resorted to camels to deliver medical supplies, oxygen cylinders and other urgent items to remote mountain locations where health services were either very limited or unavailable, he said.
In Gaza, the center succeeded in assisting with the area’s current challenges.
“Restricted access to Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, water, medical supplies and other much-needed items,” he said, urging restrictions be changed to save lives, especially those of children, women and the elderly.
Al-Rabeeah urged the international community to take decisive action to protect health facilities and humanitarian workers, and all authorities to abide by international humanitarian law.
He also called for involving healthcare workers in policy-making processes, to ensure that their expertise and experience are used to shape effective healthcare strategies.
Al-Rabeeah emphasized the crucial role of international collaboration in ensuring that all people in need have access to humanitarian assistance and medical care.
Harvard witnesses graduation of 60 Saudi students from elite US universities
RIYADH: The Saudi Club at Harvard University recently organized a graduation ceremony for Saudi graduates from Harvard University, MIT, Boston University, and Tufts University.
The event took place on Harvard’s campus in Boston and was attended by Mohammed Khashaan, director of the public diplomacy department at the Saudi Embassy in the US, Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the ceremony, Khashaan said that the distinguished Saudi students are graduating in light of the transformations occurring under Saudi Vision 2030.
He highlighted the investment in the nation’s talented individuals, and said that the Kingdom is experiencing economic, industrial, and environmental growth, accompanied by renewed opportunities for its citizens to pursue their dreams, and contribute to building the future of the nation and the world.
Additionally, US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Michael Ratney, delivered a recorded speech in which he congratulated the graduating students and thanked the Saudi Club for organizing the event to celebrate their achievements.
“I have been in Saudi Arabia for only a year, and the professional and personal opportunities here have never been greater. Your country is rich in resources, but its most valuable asset is its human capabilities,” Ratney said.
He also highlighted the diversity he has observed in various fields, from filmmaking to video game development and space travel, and expressed his happiness at witnessing this growth.
Saudi Arabia appoints first envoy to Syria in more than a decade
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has appointed Faisal Al-Mujfel as the kingdom’s new ambassador to Syria, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
“The honored ambassador extends his thanks to the leadership on the occasion of his appointment as Ambassador to the Syrian Arab Republic,” SPA said.
Al-Mujfel is the kingdom's first envoy to Damascus since the closure of the Saudi embassy there in 2012 during the Syrian civil war.
Syria reopened its embassy in Riyadh last year and appointed a new ambassador in December.
Elderly Indonesian pilgrims enjoy easier Hajj journey with Makkah Route Initiative
RIYADH: The Makkah Route Initiative implemented by the Ministry of Interior at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia, is providing exceptional services to Indonesian pilgrims, ensuring a smooth and comfortable Hajj journey.
Elderly pilgrims have expressed gratitude for the ease of procedures, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Siti Munasaru, a 69-year-old pilgrim from Tangerang, said she appreciates the ease with which Hajj procedures are carried out, and expressed deep gratitude to Saudi Arabia and those responsible for the initiative.
Suwatini Binti Amat, a 68-year-old pilgrim from Purworejo, Central Java, thanked the Kingdom for the services provided to pilgrims, and stressed that the Makkah Route Initiative has greatly relieved the hardships faced during traditional travel, particularly for elderly pilgrims, making their Hajj journey more comfortable and safer.
The Makkah Route Initiative has reduced waiting times, and made the trip to the holy land more convenient.
It reflects the strong collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, and underscores the commitment to provide excellent services to pilgrims, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Services include the issuing of electronic Hajj visas, biometric data collection, completion of passport procedures in specialized lounges at departure airports, ensuring health requirements are met, and efficient luggage tagging and sorting. After arrival in the Kingdom, pathways are assigned, and partner agencies ensure hassle-free delivery of pilgrims’ luggage to their accommodation.
